Pentagon exaggerated shutdown's impact on secret JATM project: Report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
Today 22:19

The Pentagon overstated the shutdown's impact on the secret JATM missile project, a key program aimed at countering China's long-range missile advantage.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks before a lunch with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington (AP)

The Pentagon has been accused of overstating the effect of the recent US government shutdown on a classified missile program designed to help the country keep pace with China's growing military capabilities, according to a report by Bloomberg.

In October, the House Armed Services Committee released a report warning that the shutdown would significantly delay the deployment of the Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), a key program developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force.

The report emphasized that the missile system is "central" to US air defense and is "necessary to catch up with China," which has reportedly surpassed the US in targeting critical assets with long-range missiles.

However, the committee later removed references to the JATM missile program from its report.

Air Force confirms no program-level delays

A spokesperson for the House Armed Services Committee told Bloomberg that the warning about delays was based on outdated or miscommunicated information.

"Thankfully, the Air Force was able to mitigate this delay before it took effect, but there were some crossed wires, and that information wasn’t conveyed to us," the spokesperson said.

The US Air Force also confirmed that although it began evaluating possible impacts of a shutdown in September, mitigation plans were put in place before the October 1 deadline. As a result, the missile program did not suffer any program-level setbacks.

JATM program vital to counter China's military advances

The initial congressional warning regarding delays in the JATM program came amid broader concerns about the US falling behind China in advanced missile technology. The Lockheed Martin-developed system is expected to be critical for future air combat scenarios.

However, following internal assessments and clarification from the Air Force, lawmakers quietly removed the section related to JATM from the final report.

Mitigation efforts began before Oct. 1 deadline

According to a statement from the Air Force, “The JATM team projected a possible delay to a test event if the shutdown were to occur and the team was unable to get the necessary support... The Air Force was able to mitigate the potential delay and conduct the prioritized activities. Currently, the JATM program has not experienced any program-level delays resulting from the government shutdown.”

On Monday, the US Senate passed legislation aimed at ending the government shutdown. The bill secured 60 votes, the exact number required for passage, while 40 lawmakers opposed it. It now awaits approval from the House of Representatives.